24 Canal Street, Newry, Co Down, BT35 6JB

This is one of a group of interesting urban vernacular dwellings, possibly dating from the 18th century. Records indicate that the buildings originally had thatched roofs.

The house is a two-storey and attic, two-bay urban vernacular dwelling, located second from the right in a terrace of four on the west side of Canal Street. It has a steeply pitched natural slate roof with a lined rendered chimney on the right gable, which abuts a party wall with the adjacent property at number 22. A cast iron skylight is set into the front roof slope, and semicircular metal rainwater goods run down the facade to a central downpipe. The left bay is narrow, providing access to rear yards. The facade is finished with painted lined render, featuring a corbelled eaves course. A broad timber t+g sheeted door serves the passage located within the left bay, and a similar door and a 1/1 exposed sliding sash window (without a sill) are situated on the right. A single 1/1 exposed box sliding sash window with a painted rendered cill is located centrally to the right bay at first floor level. The left (number 22) and right (number 26) gables share party walls with adjacent properties. Access to the rear is not available.

Wren’s map of 1761 shows buildings in this location. The Ordnance Survey map of 1835 depicts the property, and an 1838 valuation describes it as a thatched building measuring 13 feet by 24 feet 6 inches by 14 feet 6 inches. The dimensions were broadly similar in the 1863 valuation. The existing building is undoubtedly the one described in these valuations. While the precise date when the thatch was replaced with slates is unknown, the roof framing was replaced using sawn timber, but the original roof pitch was maintained. The buildings were constructed between 1820 and 1839, and are currently used as a house within a terrace. A charity owns the property.